Embodied Carbon Policy Toolkit

Policy Primer Educational Series

Policy is an essential step towards creating the scale of action required to rapidly reduce embodied carbon in construction. The policy primer series (toolkit) below begins with an introduction to procurement policies, also known as Buy Clean. Keep checking back to see additional primers on other carbon policy areas.

Several key forms of embodied carbon policies to look out for in 2023 include:

  • Procurement policies (like Buy Clean and material-specific variations)
  • Climate Action Plans
  • Building codes
  • City zoning, land use, and building regulations and incentives, including building and material reuse policies
  • Executive orders addressing embodied carbon of building and industrial sector emissions

Scroll down to find additional resources from the Carbon Leadership Forum

Policy Tracking Map

Embodied carbon policies are spreading rapidly across the United States and the world. Click on the map markers below to learn more about existing and proposed policies. For more information about the individual policies, click on the headline for each policy.

View Embodied Carbon Policy Tracking Map in a full screen map

Policy Introductory Video Series

Session 1: Introduction to the Embodied Carbon Policy Landscape

Session 2: Embodied Carbon & Climate Action Plans

Session 3: Embodied Carbon & Procurement Policies

Session 4: Embodied Carbon & Building Codes

Session 5: Embodied Carbon & Zoning and City Incentive Programs

Session 6: Embodied Carbon & Reuse and Deconstruction